Where did you live before coming to UW and/or where are you from originally?

I am one of five biological siblings; I was raised in Rwanda, Kigali where I completed my foundational education. Prior to joining the MPH program at UW, I was working in Rwanda with Partners in Health.  My background is in Nursing and a minor in Global Health, a four-year training program that I completed at the University of Pennsylvania (Hurrah Quakers)!  

Public and Global Health to me is really a combination of my lived experience, academically grounded exposures, and engagements.  

What is your background in public health/global health?

Public health has been a part of my path since I was young but more so during college is when I took a particular interest in the field (leading me to add a minor in Global Health and participate in several projects and internships in the field locally and internationally). As a nurse, I learned to understand health and wellness at an individual level and the limitations of addressing disease after the fact. This introduced me to concepts of social determinants of health but more broadly the need to tailor interventions to settings and populations. I saw this more in projects I participated in for example streamlining the care of patients with cervical cancer in Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana; education about cancer to newly diagnosed patients in Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence, Rwanda; Comparative Health Systems on Mental Health and individuals experiencing homelessness in Tamil Nadu, India. These engagements among others inspired me to want to learn more about health systems. After college, no organization could have quenched my curiosity more than Partners in Health (as seen from the work the organization has done and continues to do across communities); with Partners in Health (Rwanda), the most formative roles I participated in include Coordination of an oncology satellite clinic in Kigali. This clinic was created in partnership with several stakeholders to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19-induced lockdowns preventing patients from conveniently accessing Butaro Cancer Center (north of Rwanda) from all parts of the country. This role challenged me to think broadly about patient care and safety, operations, partnerships, resources, and teams. I also worked in the role of Clinical Programs Management that exposed me to health programs planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation in three districts. It was this role that inspired my desire to acquire additional skills and learn more about health systems, health program designs, and implementation.  

Why did you choose to get your MPH in global health at the UW?

I quickly learned that I needed to engage with the methods, frameworks, management, and analytic tools to be a better public health practitioner. With that, I investigated programs that had a strong focus on global health, where UW DGH (Department of Global Health) seems to lead the pack. I was specifically drawn to DGH because I wanted to access leading faculty and peers in areas of global health and health systems.  

What has the cohort experience been like for you?

My experience in the program was nothing short of amazing! My cohort is diverse and represents a wide range of experiences and interests; it is inspiring to be part of the team. Program staff and faculty have also been supportive and open to connecting with students, sharing their work, and inspiring collaborations. Overall, the program has been engaging, and thought-provoking on several aspects of global health, and equipping us with practical tools essential to our practice in public health.  

What do you enjoy most about Seattle?

Seattle has been a slow love for me, I think something about the grey weather took me a minute to adjust to. But I recently started tapping into the scenery and it's quite breathtaking! I also love the diverse nature of the cuisines around me. 

What advice do you have for students interested in applying to the program?

One piece of advice I can give to an aspiring Husky in the MPH Program: Keep an open mind, be flexible, and be kind to yourself. Be patient with the foundational courses.